Projects

Green chemicals from Australian wood and lignocellulosic streams.

This platform aims to convert lignocellulosic biopolymers (cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose) and extractives into value chemicals that cannot be synthesised. This consists of extracting, fractionating and upgrading both chemically and biochemically lignocellulosic components into complementary series of high value products (gels, thermoplastics, chemicals intermediate and fine) for existing markets in various industries (food, biomedical, construction, industrial, energy industries.).

Nanocellulose production and applications.

This platform develops a process to efficiently and economically produce nanocellulose from Australian wood and lignocellulosic residue, modifies the nanofibers properties and develops novel applications for new products in non-traditional industries. The structural benefits and the purity from Australia’s fibers processed from Pine Radiate and Eucalyptus will be developed.

Ultralight paper and novel packaging.

This platform focuses on developing innovative fibre based packaging system by engineering radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to integrate packaging in communication system. Nanocellulose, enzyme and plasma technology will be utilised to create papers with new attributes and improved physical properties (lighter, stronger). Novel strong and thin cellulosic based packaging, to replace oil-based plastic film will be explored.

Biosurfaces.

This platform aims at engineering paper biodiagnostics for health, environment and food safety applications and to maintain the bioactivity of biomolecules immobilised on a surface. Of special interest are the functional proteins such as antibodies and enzymes. Paper serves four functions in our diagnostics: to store the biomolecules/reactant; to transport by capillarity the sample to analyse; to reach and separate products; and to display and permanently store results.

Click here for more detail about PALS projects

Platform 1: High-value biochemical

Project 1 – Extraction depolymerisation/polymerisation of Kraft and orgasolv lignin

Project 2 – Separation/purification of hemicellulose and extractives from Australian woods

Project 3 – Polymerisation of hemicellulose oligomers and polysaccharides and its application as flocculant and rheology modifier

Project 4 – Development of fluidised bed reactor for levoglucosenone production

Platform 2: Nanocellulose production and applications

Project 5 – New pre-treatment methods to produce halogen (AOX) free nanocellulose fibres

Project 6 – New feedstock identification for nanocellulose production

Project 7 – Pilot plant production of nanocellulose

Project 8 – Nanocellulose gels

Platform 3: Smart-fibre packaging

Project 9 – Engineer RFID technology to integrate packaging in communication system

Project 10 – Development of ultralight paper for novel packaging and specialty applications

Project 11 – Engineer cellulose materials with superior dimensional stability

Click here for more information about Diagnostics research

Laser incubation for blood typing

Engineering and Testing Novel Fibrinogen Paper Diagnostics for Blood Analysis

Click here for more detail about BAMI projects

Platform 1: Functional Materials

Project 1 – Cellulosic fibre and non-woven materials for high performance applications

Project 2 – Super-hydrophobic and super-oleophilic paper for liquid and food packaging

Project 3 – Engineering specific barrier with coated paper (completed in 2017)

Project 5 – Novel biopolymer applications (completed in 2016)

Platform 2: Green Energy Solutions

Project 6 – Biorefinery opportunities in a Thermomechanical Pulping (TMP) mill

Project 7 – Hydroxymethlyfurfural from cellulosics

Project 8 – Green chemical separation and purification

Project 9 – Biomass gasification and modelling for energy and chemicals

Project 10 – Chemicals from lignin